President John Dramani Mahama is promising massive infrastructure developments in four polytechnics that will not be part of the take-off in the conversion to a technical university process.

According to President Mahama, this will enable them catch-up with the six other polytechnics already approved to be converted into technical universities.

He says government will also support lecturers and faculty members with scholarships to enable them upgrade themselves to meet the requirements of full-fledged technical universities.

“We are going to fast track the development of infrastructure in the polytechnics that are yet to begin technical university programs.

We are going to give their lecturers and faculty scholarships to go and top up their degree programs so that they are able to achieve the standard to be able to teach in these technical universities.” President Mahama has said.

Government, through the Ministry of Education has so far approved for conversion, six out of the ten polytechnics.

President Mahama in the State of the Nation address on February 25, 2016 announced the six as Kumasi, Ho Takoradi, Sunyani, Accra and the Koforidua polytechnics.

President Mahama has been addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Piase in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti where he inaugurated Center for Renewable Energy and Entrepreneurship Village for the Kumasi Polytechnic is promising massive infrastructure development for yet-to-be absorbed polytechnics.

“And so for the polytechnics that will not immediately start the technical university program, there are many good things to come. New structures would be built in their campuses in order to enable them catch up with the rest and be able to start their programs as soon as possible.”

As part of the Accounting to the People tour in the Ashanti region, he also cut sod for the construction works to begin on the main Kumasi Technical University campus at Piase near Kuntenase in the Bosomtwe District.

According to President Mahama, government is bent on converting all polytechnics into technical universities as it lays the Technical Universities Bill before parliament.

“The bill covers all the ten polytechnics in this country, and so all the ten polytechnics are the 6 that we adjudged to be ready and the four that needs some further works are all contained and would be mentioned in the bill so that we pass the law once and for all.”

Meanwhile, authorities at Kumasi Polytechnic have appealed to government to help build a faculty structure for the new campus to meet increasing student population.

Rector, Professor Nicholas Nicodemus Nsowah-Nuamah fear student population could rise from about 30 to 50 per cent of the current 10, 021.

“Your Excellency, the polytechnic lacks space to operate as a Technical University. In fact, it will be tight if we do not move some facilities immediately to our new site,” he warned.